Surname McGuffie - Meaning and Origin

McGuffie: What does the surname McGuffie mean?

The last name McGuffie is a Scottish and Northern Irish surname of intriguing origins. While not as widely known as other Scottish surnames, such as those of Scottish clans, the McGuffie surname has several suggested origins.

In Scotland, the surname McGuffie may have derived from the Gaelic words Mac Gobhaigh, meaning ‘son of the smith’ or Mac Gobha, meaning ‘son of the smith’s servant’, indeed suggesting the McGuffies were smiths by trade. The McGuffie surname is found primarily in Ayrshire, Scotland, an area of Scotland known for its coal mining and other forms of mining industry, which may also support the McGuffie’s legitimized occupational background.

Alternatively, in northern Ireland the surname McGuffie is thought to derive from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh, meaning ‘son of Aodh’ and traditionally being linked with an O’ Hewitt (Mac Aoidh) sept in County Antrim and County Londonderry. This likely suggests that certain ancestors of the McGuffie family may have been descended from the Norse-Gaels of Scotland and Ireland.

Hence, the McGuffie surname is a unique and interesting surname, with its various origins in Scotland and Northern Ireland providing us with an in depth insight into the history of the family.

McGuffie: Where does the name McGuffie come from?

The surname McGuffie is primarily found in Scotland, though other Scottish diaspora countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand all have some variation of the name. The name is believed to be of Scottish origins, derived from the Gaelic MacComgaigh or MacGumie, which translates to “son of Comge” or “son of Guma”.

Today, Scotland still has the highest population of people with the surname McGuffie with some spread into Northern England. Within Scotland, the highest concentrations of McGuffies are found in the central and western Highland regions and on the outer isles of Argyll, where the power to propagate the McGuffie name was strongest.

McGuffies also have a large presence in the United States, with the name being primarily concentrated in states like California, Florida, Texas, and New York. Canada shows similar pattern of the United States with a larger concentration of people bearing the surname in Toronto and the surrounding areas.

The name is also found in many places in Australia and New Zealand, mainly in the east-central and coastal areas. However, the name is not as common here as it is in their original countries, though a presence is still strong in the cities.

Overall, the surname McGuffie is most common in Scotland and the countries that have large Scottish diaspora populations, particularly the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname McGuffie

The surname McGuffie is an anglicised form of the Gaelic surname Mac Comhghaill (son of Comhghall).It is also commonly spelt Magoffie, Maguffie Macguffie and Macguffy.

Within Scotland, the surname is often found spelt as McGuffie and Magoffie. These variants are still common today in particular in Aberdeenshire, Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire and Wigtownshire where the name largely originates from. In Northern Ireland, many McGuffies have shifted their spelling to Maguffie, as this is the more popular spelling within the province.

Macguffie, Macguffy and MacComhghaill are other traditional versions of the surname. Macguffie is a traditional variant of the name and is usually present in Scotland and the Northern Isles. Macguffy is mainly found in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, while MacComhghaill can often be detected in areas of Ulster in Northern Ireland. Various other spelling variations exist but are less common today.

The McGuffie surname is not only traced to Scotland and Northern Ireland but also to some English families mainly originating from the North East of England. The variant Macguffy is mainly found here but other variants are also seen within English borders.

In conclusion, McGuffie is a surname with various spellings and origins. In Scotland, the name is commonly spelt asMcGuffie and Magoffie while in Northern Ireland, the more popular spelling is Maguffie. Also found in England, the name is mainly spelt asMacguffy. Other spelling variations such asMacguffie and Maccomhghaill exist but are less common today.

Famous people with the name McGuffie

• David McGuffie: British actor, voice artist and former professional footballer
• Stephen McGuffie: English Footballer
• Cecil McGuffie: former Australian rules footballer
• Scott McGuffie: American female sprinter, Olympic athlete and world record holder
• Sam McGuffie: American college football player
• William McGuffie: Scottish journalist and explorer
• Laura McGuffie: Former Paralympic athlete
• Shane McGuffie: Canadian actor
• J.B. McGuffie: Canadian actor
• Sue McGuffie: Scottish opera singer
• Francis McGuffie: American football player
• Tatiana McGuffie: American actress
• Samantha McGuffie: British actress
• Julianne McGuffie: British television actress
• Nathan McGuffie: American-Mexican actor
• Adam McGuffie: English actor
• David McGuffie: Canadian professional hockey scout
• Heather McGuffie: Australian professional chef, restaurateur and television host.

Other surnames

McGuffeeMcGuffeyMcGuffogMcGuffy